Algae and spotty java fern

Lamie said:

I have noticed hairy algae(I think) on the plants on the tips of the leaves and bits of green algae on the leaves on some plants. Also the older java fern leaves are getting all over spotty like freckles on them. I have had this tank and plants for about a year. Will the algae reduce if I put black paper around the sides and back of the tank? What is happening to the java fern?

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Lamie said:

Is that ammonia levels etc? Sure, I will upload some photos when I get home. Thanks

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itiwhetu said:

The Java fern is most probably producing young plants, they do this off their older leaves. Algae is common and is only a problem when it takes over

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Lamie said:

These are the freckled java fern and furry algae and green on plant

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Byron said:

Two different things, one good the other less so. The black spots in rows on the underside of the fronds (= leaves, but being a true fern they are called fronds) are spores from which new plants may grow. Not a problem.

There is black brush algae on some of the leaves in the first photo. Problem algae, whatever species, is caused by an imbalance of light/nutrients, and it is resolved by restoring or establishing that balance. The light intensity and spectrum are important (the duration can be altered but it does not compensate for problems with intensity or spectrum if these exist), and the available nutrients which come from fish being fed, water changes and any plant additives. Any data on the light and plant fertilizers?

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Rocky998 said:

Yes, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and ph... Also, algae can be a great sign of life in an aquarium but can easly be scrubbed off the glass

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Lamie said:

I have firstly checked the pH. It looks like 7.6 (I have tried hard to get this down to 7. I planted plants and have drift wood).

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